Lincolnshire referee Gary Sutton is the referee for Dale’s third trip to Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane on Saturday.

This our first meeting with Mr Sutton for just over a year as last August he refereed the 1-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Doncaster.

Twelve months earlier Gary was in charge in the same competition when Dale lost 3-4 at home to Keith Hill’s Barnsley, a game in which when he sent-off The Tykes’ goalkeeper and awarded Dale two penalties!

Eight weeks later he pointed to the spot THREE times at Plymouth, but while Argyle converted their two penalties, Bobby Grant missed for Dale in a 3-1 loss.

Saturday will see Gary referee Dale for the 11th time and although it’s entirely coincidental, the following list shows we are still looking for our first win under his officiating:

Aug 2005 v Cheltenham (h), D 1-1

Dec 2005 v Wrexham (a), L 1-2

Nov 2006 v Barnet (a), L 2-3

Aug 2009 v Rotherham (a), L 1-2

Apr 2010 v Torquay (a), L 0-5

Feb 2011 v Walsall (a), D 0-0

Nov 2011 v Brentford (h), L 1-2

Aug 2012 v Barnsley (h, LC), L 3-4

Oct 2012 v Plymouth (a), L 1-3

Aug 2013 v Doncaster (a, LC), L 0-1

So far this season Gary has handled five games, showing 10 yellow cards and no red. His most recent appointment was Oxford v Dagenham at the end of August.

Photo: Action Images

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